With the Club World Cup group stage nearing its conclusion, Real Madrid is preparing to face RB Salzburg on Thursday with their spot in the last 16 not yet secured. A victory in Philadelphia would see them advance as group winners. A draw might also be enough, depending on the result of the Al-Hilal vs. Pachuca match. However, manager Xabi Alonso will be without a crucial player for this game, as striker Kylian Mbappe is unavailable.
During the group stage, Mbappe was admitted to the hospital with acute gastroenteritis. He was discharged about a week ago and has returned to training, but given the high temperatures during these matches, a cautious approach is being taken with the French forward. There is a possibility he could be fit for the round of 16, but the current focus is on a gradual recovery.
Manager Alonso commented on Mbappe`s condition: “I was glad to see him on the pitch, it was his first time running around again, but he`s not fully recovered yet. He still has a vulnerability that prevents him from playing [Thursday], at least at the competitive intensity required,” Alonso explained. “We discussed it after training, and he`s hoping for a faster recovery if we advance to the round of 16. He`s hopeful he`ll be available then, but he`s still in the recovery phase. He`s not at 100% for the upcoming match.”
Mbappe`s contribution will be vital for Real Madrid going forward, especially in the tournament`s knockout rounds. In his first season with the club, he proved his value by scoring 40 goals and providing four assists across all competitions. As the season concludes without major trophies, this tournament offers Real Madrid an opportunity to finish on a positive note before the offseason.
Consequently, it is anticipated that young forward Gonzalo Garcia will make his third consecutive start for Los Blancos in this tournament. The 21-year-old has impressed with a goal and an assist in his first two appearances, despite having only played four senior matches in total before the tournament. This provides manager Alonso a chance to assess players from Real Madrid`s youth system, such as Garcia, as he familiarizes himself with the squad. Notably, Rodrygo has not been deployed as a false nine in Mbappe`s absence, leading to speculation that Alonso might be evaluating alternative options, especially amidst rumors of the Brazilian potentially leaving the club.
Predicted lineups
RB Salzburg: Christian Zawieschitzky, Stefan Lainer, Joane Gadou, Jacob Rasmussen, Frans Kratzig, Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Nene Dorgeles, Oscar Gloukh, Edmund Baidoo, Karim Onisiwo
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, Fran Garcia, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Gonzalo Garcia, Vinicius Junior
How to watch RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid, odds
- Date: Thursday, June 26 | Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Live stream: Watch on DAZN (for free)
- Odds: RB Salzburg +750; Draw +490; Real Madrid -370
Group H scenarios
Real Madrid advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win or draw against RB Salzburg
- Loss to RB Salzburg AND Al-Hilal draw or loss to Pachuca
RB Salzburg advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win or draw against Real Madrid
- Loss to Real Madrid AND Al-Hilal loss to Pachuca
Al-Hilal advance to the round of 16 with:
- Win against Pachuca AND Real Madrid loss to RB Salzburg OR RB Salzburg loss to Real Madrid
Pachuca: Eliminated from the competition
Predicted score
Real Madrid`s offense is expected to perform well, securing a victory that sees them top the group and carry momentum into the knockout stages. Prediction: Real Madrid 3, RB Salzburg 1.
Dominic Ashworth